RTVX1140 will only move in 4WD!

TWP1954

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ZD 1211
Nov 17, 2020
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Backed off of trailer put in forward moved about 15 ft and stopped moving. It will only move forward or backward in 4WD! Help please
 

armylifer

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It sounds like a rear drive shaft is broken or disconnected.
 
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Henro

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It sounds like a rear drive shaft is broken or disconnected.
I would have guessed the RTV was front wheel drive and used the rear wheels only in 4WD. But I do not have a clue and look forward to learning more in this thread...
 

armylifer

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I would have guessed the RTV was front wheel drive and used the rear wheels only in 4WD. But I do not have a clue and look forward to learning more in this thread...
I don't know about that particular vehicle either but I can imagine a drive train that is rear wheel in 2wd and front wheel in 4wd. It is possible that there may even be a carrier bearing halfway between the transmission and the rear differential. I tried looking at a parts diagram in Messicks but I must open an account to do that and I don't want to open one.
 

TWP1954

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Nov 17, 2020
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Mississippi
I don't know about that particular vehicle either but I can imagine a drive train that is rear wheel in 2wd and front wheel in 4wd. It is possible that there may even be a carrier bearing halfway between the transmission and the rear differential. I tried looking at a parts diagram in Messicks but I must open an account to do that and I don't want to open one.
It’s Definitely Rear Wheel Driven Hydrostatic
 

armylifer

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It’s Definitely Rear Wheel Driven Hydrostatic
In that case I would suspect a broken U Joint or or CV joint, whichever they use on that vehicle. There is a slight possibility of a rear differential problem but that is unlikely because he said that it drives in 4wd. If he does not hear noise from the rear differential then it is not likely the problem.
 

armylifer

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One more thought came to mind. I don't know what that rear drive train looks like but if it has a half shaft setup then it could be a broken U Joint or CV joint on one of the half shafts, if that is how the rear drive train is set up.
 

ruger1980

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I'm not sure how they are configured but I know the Kawasaki's sometime strip out the splines on the rear hubs and they will not drive when this happens. look at both rear axle shafts when trying to drive in 2WD and see if they are spinning
 

whitetiger

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I'm not sure how they are configured but I know the Kawasaki's sometime strip out the splines on the rear hubs and they will not drive when this happens. look at both rear axle shafts when trying to drive in 2WD and see if they are spinning
It is common for the RTVs to strip out the splines in the hub.
 

ruger1980

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In this case would the OP hear a noise from the rear end and maybe even feel some lurching while driving?
Not if the splines were cleanly stripped out and the preload on the hub for the axle nut were loose. The axle would just turn smoothly inside the hub as if one tire were off the ground
 

armylifer

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Not if the splines were cleanly stripped out and the preload on the hub for the axle nut were loose. The axle would just turn smoothly inside the hub as if one tire were off the ground
Thank you. I was thinking about buying a Kubota RTV900 and what you said about the axle splines having a propensity to strip out has me re-thinking going with Kubota. I was also looking at the Kioti offerings. I want to stay with Diesel powered but I want to stay well away from JD.

Thanks for all the information you provide.
 

Henro

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Thank you. I was thinking about buying a Kubota RTV900 and what you said about the axle splines having a propensity to strip out has me re-thinking going with Kubota. I was also looking at the Kioti offerings. I want to stay with Diesel powered but I want to stay well away from JD.

Thanks for all the information you provide.
WhiteTiger does contribute such helpful information here! Highly appreciated.

But before NOT buying a RTV, I would ask what "common" means with respect to stripping out the rear axle splines, and how big of a deal it is to repair if this happens.

There are many RTVs out there, and it seems like not too many reports of this being an issue. BUT I do not follow any RTV forums, so what do I know?

OPPS! Confused lugbolt with whitetiger! edited post to correct. Both are outstanding at helping us here. So my confusion is understandable...
 

armylifer

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WhiteTiger does contribute such helpful information here! Highly appreciated.

But before NOT buying a RTV, I would ask what "common" means with respect to stripping out the rear axle splines, and how big of a deal it is to repair if this happens.

There are many RTVs out there, and it seems like not too many reports of this being an issue. BUT I do not follow any RTV forums, so what do I know?

OPPS! Confused lugbolt with whitetiger! edited post to correct. Both are outstanding at helping us here. So my confusion is understandable...
I actually confused Ruger1980 with WhiteTiger. I had what Whitetiger said in mind when I replyed to Ruger1980's post.

To me "common" in this context means one too many times. It is not that difficult to fix a broken axle or replace a half shaft with stripped splines. It is just that at my age I don't want to do that anymore.
 

lugbolt

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take the rubber hub cap off of the center of the hub

have a helper get into the seat, start the engine in 2wd, mash the gas pedal in gear while you're watching the nut. If nut moves and wheel doesn't you have a stripped hub. They have a kit to fix it, it comes with 2 new hubs. The one that is not stripped will be a bear to get it off unless you have a wheel/hub puller. They get stuck.

Another way to diag is to just get in the seat start the engine toss it into a gear (forward backward hi low it don't matter as long as it's in 2wd). Use your left foot to push the differential lock pedal down then readh over with your right foot and give it some gas. If it moves, you have an axle u-joint or hub problem at the rear of the machine. Rare to have a transmission problem but I have seen ONE, how they tore it up I have no idea.

U-joints and axles aren't much fun to replace, either. Not hard but not any fun especially if you are working alone. Wash it down real good before you start, makes for less cursing especially when you take the spring bolts out and the shock bracket nuts off.

yes real similar to a kawaski mule. The rear suspension design is called a DeDion axle.
 

whitetiger

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In this case would the OP hear a noise from the rear end and maybe even feel some lurching while driving?
Probably not. When the splines shear off, the inside of the wheel hub is smooth. The axle shaft can just spin freely.
 

whitetiger

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Thank you. I was thinking about buying a Kubota RTV900 and what you said about the axle splines having a propensity to strip out has me re-thinking going with Kubota. I was also looking at the Kioti offerings. I want to stay with Diesel powered but I want to stay well away from JD.

Thanks for all the information you provide.
I did not mean to imply they have a "propensity" to strip, it happens to a very low percentage of RTVs. It is a failure that can happen to any unit no matter what brand.
 

ruger1980

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I would agree with @witetiger
The hubs on most machines with a splined axle can over time fail as the hub is usually grey cast iron and does not take to repeated impact loads. If kept tight they are not usually a problem.
My brother has 2 Kawasakis and the one had a failure this fall but they are both about 25 yrs old and have not been treated lightly.
 

armylifer

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I did not mean to imply they have a "propensity" to strip, it happens to a very low percentage of RTVs. It is a failure that can happen to any unit no matter what brand.
Sorry for the use of the word propensity. You did not say that but I used it because that fit my understanding of it being a common occurrence.

Anyway, it is my belief that it should not be a common occurrence. That to me indicates a need for re-engineering.
 

Henro

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Sorry for the use of the word propensity. You did not say that but I used it because that fit my understanding of it being a common occurrence.

Anyway, it is my belief that it should not be a common occurrence. That to me indicates a need for re-engineering.
But I thought he said (or implied ?) it was not a common occurrence...